The understanding smile of an old wife to her husband is one of the loveliest things in the world.

- Booth Tarkington

Boyhood is the longest time in life for a boy. The last term of the school-year is made of decades, not of weeks, and living through them is like wai…

- Booth Tarkington

Gossip is never fatal until it is denied.

- Booth Tarkington

Take your work seriously but never take yourself seriously and do not take what happens either to yourself or your work seriously.

- Booth Tarkington

I'm not so sure he's wrong about automobiles," he said, "With all their speed forward they may be a step backward for civilization-that is, spiritual…

- Booth Tarkington

The only good in pretending is the fun we get out of fooling ourselves that we fool somebody.

- Booth Tarkington

Whatever does not pretend at all has style enough.

- Booth Tarkington

Destiny has a constant passion for the incongruous.

- Booth Tarkington

An ideal wife is any woman who has an ideal husband.

- Booth Tarkington